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Kruse: Erosion of local control is ‘concern’ in heat of property tax debate
STATEHOUSE – Sen. Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn) said today that while he supports comprehensive property tax reform, he’s not in favor of what could accompany it – the erosion of some local government control.
At press time, Kruse was prepared to vote in favor of House Bill 1001, which he said contained “far more good than bad.” But Kruse said he was not happy about certain aspects of the legislation, and emphasized he has voted against the concepts when they were presented in individual Senate bills.
“I’m concerned that House Bill 1001 is going to decrease local government control, and I’ve always felt local government is the best government because it’s the closest to the people,” Kruse said. “I’ve long been a defender of township government. I think that’s why it’s been part of Indiana’s structure for all these years – because it works.”
Earlier in the session, Kruse voted against Senate Bill 16, which sought to change Indiana’s assessment system, eliminating township assessors and placing all duties under a single county assessor. Kruse also voted against SB 312, which would have established a single executive in each county to replace the three-member board of commissioners. Kruse also opposes the local referendum language contained in House Bill 1001.
Senate members split the property tax reform legislation into 14 separate bills. The House of Representatives offered one large, comprehensive piece of legislation. Senate leaders added portions of their proposals into the House Bill. Late last week, Senate and House Republicans signed off on the compromise legislation, which, at press time, still awaited House and Senate Democrat approval. Gov. Mitch Daniels indicated last week he would sign the GOP plan into law.
(Dennis Kruse serves Senate District 14, which includes portions of Allen, DeKalb and Steuben counties.)
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